Spence vs Crawford LIVE: ‘Bud’ produces masterclass before sealing stoppage win
Re-live updates from the undisputed-title fight in Las Vegas – a bout years in the making
Terence Crawford dominated Errol Spence Jr to win one of the most-anticipated boxing matches in years.
The American southpaws, both previously unbeaten, clashed to crown an undisputed welterweight champion in a bout that was years in the making. Spence, 33, carried the WBC, WBA and IBF titles into the T-Mobile Arena, while Crawford, 35, held the WBO belt, and he walked away with all four.
Crawford dominated from the second round, knocking Spence to the ground and twice flooring him in the seventh in a one-sided contest. He ended it in the ninth with a brutal flurry as the referee stepped in to confirm a TKO and underline “Bud”’s reputation as perhaps the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet.
Re-live updates and results from Spence vs Crawford, below.
Where do Crawford and Spence sit in our pound-for-pound rankings?
No 4? Not anymore. Terence Crawford climbed our pound-for-pound list after his masterclass against Errol Spence Jr.
But where does “Bud” sit in our rankings now? Find out below, as well as where Spence ranks after entering the weekend at No 5...
Errol Spence reveals date of Terence Crawford rematch – ‘We got to do it again’
Errol Spence Jr plans on activating his rematch clause with Terence Crawford and has revealed the likely date of the rematch as he looks to avenge his knockout loss.
“He was the better man,” said Spence. “He was using his jab, and my timing was a little bit off. He was catching me in between shots. I make no excuses. He was on a hotter jab, he was timing his jab and he had his timing down on point.”
Attention now turns to the mandatory rematch and despite the decisive nature of his defeat, Spence laid out the fact that it will probably happen before the end of 2023.
“Hell yeah, we got to do it again,” he said. “I’m going to be a lot better, it’s going to be a lot closer. It’s probably going to be in December, because it’s set before the end of the year.”
Spence also hinted that he would prefer the rematch to be at a higher weight than the 147lb welterweight limit, with junior middleweight (154lbs) the next division up. The winner gets to decide the weight of the rematch, but Crawford also suggested he’d be open to moving up.”
More here:
Errol Spence reveals date of Terence Crawford rematch – ‘We got to do it again’
Spence was knocked out by Crawford on Saturday night in the battle of the two best welterweights of their generation
Steve Bunce: Terence Crawford’s masterclass puts him in ‘all-time great' conversation
“There was a touch of boxing genius in the work of Terence Crawford in the ring at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
“Crawford dominated and stopped Errol Spence in round nine to unify all four of the recognised belts at welterweight, but the trinkets are just cheap toys in his boxing world.
“It was meant to be a 50-50 fight, two unbeaten men, both champions, rivals for five years and equals in so many ways; in the end, and from the very start, Crawford took control, dropping Spence three times before the mercy intervention.
“There were no excuses in defeat for Spence, no gloating in victory for Crawford; the fight’s weird contractual structure gives Spence the right to ask for a rematch. Spence wants the fight again, the next time at light-middleweight, an increase of seven pounds; Crawford will inevitably go with the request and pocket another massive payday. They were each guaranteed $10m on Saturday – they made and deserved more.”
Full article from Steve Bunce:
Terence Crawford’s masterclass puts him in conversation to be an all-time great
Crawford’s ruthless demolition of Errol Spence was supposed to be a close fight
Terence Crawford dismantles Errol Spence Jr to become undisputed welterweight world champion
Terence Crawford knocked down Errol Spence Jr three times before finally ending the fight at 2:32 of the ninth round on a technical knockout to cement himself as one of the greatest welterweights in history.
The fight, the most-anticipated boxing match in several years, unified the division for the first time in the four-belt era that began in 2004.
Crawford (40-0, 31 knockouts) already owned the WBO belt, and took the WBC, WBA and IBF titles from Spence (28-1). Crawford also ran his KO streak to 11 matches, the second-longest active stretch.
Crawford, 35, has won titles in super lightweight and lightweight in addition to welterweight, capturing the latter after moving up in 2018. The Omaha, Nebraska, fighter became the first male boxer to become the undisputed champion in two divisions.
Terence Crawford dismantles Errol Spence Jr to become undisputed welterweight king
Crawford earned a ninth-round TKO after dropping his fellow American three times in an era-defining win
Report: Crawford unifies welterweight division with 9th-round TKO in dominant performance over Spence
Terence Crawford knocked down Errol Spence Jr three times before finally ending the fight at 2:32 of the ninth round on a technical knockout to cement himself as one of the greatest welterweights in history.
The fight, the most-anticipated boxing match in several years, unified the division for the first time in the four-belt era that began in 2004.
Crawford (40-0, 31 knockouts) already owned the WBO belt, and took the WBC, WBA and IBF titles from Spence (28-1). Crawford also ran his KO streak to 11 matches, the second-longest active stretch.
Crawford, 35, has won titles in super lightweight and lightweight in addition to welterweight, capturing the latter after moving up in 2018. The Omaha, Nebraska, fighter became the first male boxer to become the undisputed champion in two divisions.
A big fight night on the Strip still brings out the stars, with recording artists Cardi B and Andre 3000 of Outkast, actor and Las Vegas resident Mark Walhberg, NBA star Damian Lillard and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones at T-Mobile Arena. They were among the celebrities that also included former boxing champions such as Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao.
Eminem introduced Crawford and his song “Lose Yourself” played as he walked into the ring.
Spence was the aggressor early on, but Crawford sent him to the floor with a right hand with 20 seconds left in the second round. Then Crawford went after Spence, but time ran out before he could finish him off.
Crawford, a minus-154 favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, then took control of the fight, landing several major blows, often on counters. But Crawford also picked his spots to go after Spence, his punching power taking a heavy toll.
In the seventh round, Crawford knocked down Spence twice — with a short right at 1:02 and with another right with just a second left.
The 33-year-old Spence who lives in DeSoto, Texas, won the IBF title in 2017, claimed the WBC championship in 2019 and took the WBA championship last year.
Terence Crawford beats Errol Spence Jr – LIVE
Carl Frampton thinks Crawford is not just the pound-for-pound king right now but of this era: “This is a big statement, but most people would agree that Floyd Mayweather was the fighter of our generation – I think Terence Crawford is now the fighter of our generation. I think that performance would have beaten Mayweather at welterweight.”
Terence Crawford beats Errol Spence Jr – LIVE
Amir Khan warns Errol Spence against a rematch: “To be honest I don’t think it’ll do him any good. There was talk of him struggling to make weight and maybe he needs to move up a weight now.”
Terence Crawford beats Errol Spence Jr – LIVE
Carl Frampton: “That was one of the best boxing performances I’ve ever seen – and I’ve seen a lot of fights.”
Terence Crawford beats Errol Spence Jr – LIVE
A battered Spence Jr speaks in the ring: “He [Crawford] told me, ‘good fight’. I wasn’t surprised by his speed and accuracy. Hell yeah, we gotta do this again.”
Terence Crawford beats Errol Spence Jr – LIVE
Terence Crawford: “We were worried about his jab coming into the fight. Once you take away his jab, the rest is history.”
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